Out-Of-School Learning

"The Educational Value of School Field Trips"

A new experimental study has found that school visits to an art museum yield multiple benefits for students—especially those from low-income families.

The outcomes identified include improvements in students' knowledge of and ability to think critically about art, a stronger display of "historical empathy," greater tolerance for differing views, and interest in returning for another visit, according to the study by researchers at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.

The study focused on visits to the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Ark. An overview of the research was published online last week in the journal Education Next.

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